Oil burner



June 2, 1936.

OIL BURNER:

' Filed June27, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E INVENTOR.

BY TTORNEY June 2, 1936. w, HOLMES OIL BURNER 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed June27, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 2, 1936 OIL BURNER Leslie W. Holmes, Strati'ord, Comp,assignor to Oronoque Oil Burner Corporation. New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application June 27, 1930. Serial No. 464,197

"lClaims.

This invention relates to oil burners, and more particularly, to thetypes employing a sump for holding the oil to be burned, and means forsupplying air under pressure to the combustion chamber.

An object of this invention is to provide an oil burner of the typereferred to which is simple in construction, economically made, easilyoperated and controlled, and yet which will function properly withoutthe necessity for frequently cleaning and adjusting.

A feature of this invention is the provision of means for producing agyrating or swirling flame whereby the heat of the flame is distributedto :5 all parts of the furnace or stove without the use of a rotating ormotor-driven jet.

A further feature is the provision of means and a way that it will bekept cool, thereby preventing carbon from being formed and depositedinthe fuel pipe. And a still further feature is the provision ofconvenient means for regulating the quantity of 5 fuel oil, and also thequantity of air which may be fed to the combustion chamber.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter 85 appear. r

.In theaccompanying drawings which illustrate one form of thisinvention, that at present preferred- Figure 1 is a side view partly insection, taken along the longitudinal center of the device.

Fig 2 is a plan view of the inner end of the burner with the cover plateremoved to show the oil'sump and saucer, the deflector rod being shownin section.

Fig. 3 is an end viewof the burner looking at the outer end thereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the cover ilate whichhas been removed from Fig. 2.

The burner of this invention comprises a'body portion made up of a fewsimple castings which merely need to be faced and then bolted together.Thus, thereis an inner portion or burner proper it, an intermediateportion II, and an outer portion l2, having flanges held together bybolts l3.

These portions [0, H and I2 are cored and form a conduit for airsupplied to the burner under low pressure by a blower l4 comprising anair impeller or fan 5 mounted on the shaft of a selective motor l6supported on a bracket I1 bolt- 5 ed to the portion I2 of the body. Thehousing for the fan I5 is formed of two parts [8 and IS, the latterbeing formed integral with the portion l2 of the body and the formerbeing secured thereto by bolts 20. 10

When the motor is operated, air is drawn into the blower 14 through anopening 2| in the part I8 of the housing and is forced under pressurethrough the connected portions I2, H and III of the body and finallyto'the combustion saucer, as 16 will appear below.

In order to permit the quantity of air delivered to the burner proper tobe varied and so to control combustion without changing the speed of themotor IS, the present invention provides a sim- 20 ple, yet efficient,means for regulating the quantity of air taken into the blower throughthe opening 2| therein. This means comprises a disk 22 large enough tocover the opening 2| and movable toward or from the margin of theopening 2| to, 25 cut-off more or less the free flow of air into theblower. In the form shown herein, the disk 22 is mounted on a screw 23(carried by a web 24 of the part I8 which extends across the opening 2|)in threaded engagement therewith. Hence, by 80 rotating it in onedirection or the other, the disk 22 is moved toward or from the opening2| to change the effective size of the opening 2| and decrease orincrease the amount of air which may be drawn into the blower l4 andultimately sup- 35 plied to the burner proper.

Fuel oil is supplied to the burner proper, in the form of the inventionillustrated herein, by a supply pipe 25 (see Fig. 1) leading to a valve26 where the quantity of oil-flow may be con- 40 trolled by automaticmeans known to the art or by a hand-wheel 21 as shown. From the valve26, the fuel oil passes through an automatic shutoff valve 28 andvarious pipes and pipe-fittings 29 to a vertical pipe 30 which extendsinto the 45 portion |2 of the body.

This pipe 30 is connected to an elbow 3| and the latter is connected toa feed pipe 32 extending through the portions H and I0 to be connectedin the latter to the burner proper.

This feed pipe 3211s, of necessity, a relatively long pipe and part'ofit must be located within the furnace adjacent the burner proper. Hence,it would become heated and cause carbon from the oilto adhere to itsinner walls. But, this is avoided by the present invention by having thefeed pipe 32 located within the portions: IO, N and I2 where the freshair forced therethrough by the blower l4 keeps the pipe 32 cool, atleast to the extent of preventing the formation of carbon therein, andthis in an important feature of this invention.

The burner proper, as stated, is in the portion I0 of the body. Itcomprises a plate 33 having anannular ring 34 fitting within thecircular pot-shaped end 35 of the portion |0 (compare Figs. 1, 2 and 3)while a flange 36 on the annular ring 34 rests on the edge 31 of thepotshaped end 35. The ring 34 is connected by webs 38 to a saucer 39,the central portion of which has a well or sump 40 in which an elbow 4|connected to the feed pipe 32 is threaded. Hence, fuel oil from the feedpipe 32 may flow into the sump and then over the surface of the saucer39 where it is ignited and burns.

To induce proper combustion of the fuel oil, the air under pressure inthe portions IO, U and I2 of the body is, as usual, caused to mix withthe products of combustion, but this is done in a novel and extremelyadvantageous manner in theembodiment of the invention dis-,closed'hereinQ For, instead of causing a single inwardly directed streamor sheet of air to flow over the surface of the oil container. asheretofore, the present invention provides two sets-of streams orcurtains of air to flow above the surface of the saucer, one set ofstreams or curtains flowing inwardly while the other flows outward-; ly,thereby causing the flames to form a narrow ring, receiving air forcombustion from both the inner and outer circles of the ring,'instead ofentirely from the periphery of a circle as heretofore. In the lattercase, little if any fresh air could reach the flames and gas in thecenter of the circle, while in the burner of the present invention, theair supplied from both the inside and outside can thoroughly admix withthe gases of combustion and thereby insure proper and completecombustion.

To produce the inwardly directed streams of air, there is provided acoverplate 42 having a seat 43 resting on the annular ring 34 and flange36 of the saucer 39. This plate has a central circular opening throughwhich the flames may rise and spread to the walls of the furnace.Between its outer and inward circular edges, the plate 42 has a flange45 extending downwardly toward the surface of the saucer 39 and inactual contact therewith. This flange.

45 is provided with two annular series of perforations 46 and 4'!through which air under pressure is forced over the surface of thesaucer 39 after passing, upwardly through spaces: 48 between the webs 38and horizontally under the cover plate 42.

Air is supplied to the center of the burner through a hole 49 in a boss50 which extends upwardly from the sump at the center of the saucer.This air is caused to be deflected outwardly against the flames by a.deflector 5| mounted on a stem 52 extending through the center of thehole 49 in the boss 50 and screwthreaded in a lug 53 on the elbow 4|.

The presence of the stem 52 in the hole 49 converts the hole into anannular passage and causes the air to rise along the stem 52 until it isdeflected outwardly by the deflector 5|.

In operation, to light the burner, the valve 21 is opened to allow fueloil to flow through the various connections, including the supply pipe32, to the sump 49 from which it flows over the surfaceof the saucer'39.This oil is ignited by throwing a match or burning paper onto thesaucer. When the oil begins to burn, the motor I5 is started, causingair under pressure to be forced horizontally and inwardly through theperforations 46 and 41 and upwardly and outwardly through the hole 49and against the deflector 5|. When the oil on the surface of the sauceris properly ignited, the air regulating disc 22 is adjusted until a goodflame is obtained, and likewise the hand-wheel 21 of the valve isadjusted to supply the proper quantity of fuel oil. During the operationof the burner, the horizontal streams of air from the perforations 46and 41 tend to carry the flames from the saucer inwardly toward thecenter of thesaucer, and do so to a slight extent. But, at the sametime, the central streams of air tend to blow the flames outwardly.These two streams of air, therefore, conflict with each other and thusbecome thoroughly commingled with the burning gases and assist in theircombustion. Moreover, the conflicting streams of air cause the flamesrising from the saucer 39 to be agitated and directed to various partsof the walls of the furnace, accomplishing'the same result as isproduced in other burners by mechanically rotating the, burner.

These twoopposed streams of air have other advantages, for instance,they keep the parts of the burner adjacent the flames from becomingunduly heated: the air streams escaping through the perforations46 and41 keep the surface of the plate 42 from becoming overheated, andconsequently, warped; while the'air streams escaping through the hole 49likewise protect the deflector 5| and the stem 52 thereof.

Should the flames rising from'the saucer 39 become extinguished by anymeans, with the resulting cessation ofoil consumption, the oil in thesaucer 39 will flow over the rim 54 of the saucer and down through thespaces 48 between the Webs 38 into the interior of the pot-shaped end 35of the part III. This overflow is collect-' ed in a trough 55 in thepart l9 toward which the walls of the pot-shaped end 35 slope, and fromthe trough the oil flows by gravity into a pipe 56, and from the latter.to a smaller pipe 51 emptying into a pail 58 having a wire loop of theautomatic.

59 supportedfon an arm 60 shut-off valve 28. When the pail 58 becomesfilled to a predetermined extent, its weight rocks the arm 60 of theautomatic valve to shut-off the supply of fuel oil to the burner.

It should be particularlynoted that fresh air supplied to the burnerproper impinges against the lower or bottom surface of the saucer 39 andkeeps the saucer sufficiently cool to prevent warping in spite of thefact that the saucer is located directly beneath the flames.

It should also be clearly understood that the streams of air'sweepingacross the saucer 39 from the perforations 45 and 41 do not blow downagainst the surface of the saucer but parallel thereto and slightlyspaced above it.

The burner may be supported in any suitable or desirable way, forinstance, the part of it which is located within the fire box of thefurnace may be supported by a pair of legs 51 bolted to ears 58 on thepart l0, while the part outside the flre box is supported by a singleleg 59'mounted in the bracket H which supports the motor. Thus there isa three-point contact which will support the burner in any desiredposition regardless of how uneven the supporting surface may be. The leg59 is adjustable so that the saucer 39 and the feed pipe 32 may be fixedat the proper level and inclination respectively.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and forwhich it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is:

1. An oil burner having a combustion chamber including a saucer to whichfuel oil is delivered to be there ignited and burned and defined by anouter edge; means for conveying air under pressure to the combustionchamber; and means for dividing said saucer into a fuel burning andnonfuel burning section and for causing streams of air to passsuccessively upwardly over the edge of the saucer next downwardly intothe non-fuel burning section and then into the fuel burning section ofthe saucer through a plurality of orifices at different levels asradially directed streams into the fuel burning section of the saucer,the area of the orifices on the lower level being greater than that ofthose on the upper level so that the quantity of air being admitted atthe level of the saucer is greater than that admitted at a slightlyhigher level.

2. An oil burner having a combustion chamber including a'saucer to whichfuel oil is delivered to be there ignited and burned and defined by anouter edge; means for conveying air under pressure to the combustionchamber; and means for dividing said saucer into a fuel burning andnonfuel burning section and for causing streams of air to passsuccessively upwardly over the edge of the saucer next downwardly intothe non-fuel burning section and then into the fuel burning section ofthe saucer through a plurality of orifices at different levels asradially directed streams into the fuel burning section of the saucer.

3. A liquid fuel burner comprising a casing having an air admission portand affording a pressure air chamber, a burner cup supported by saidcasing above the bottom thereof and having a peripheral flange, a bodymember closing the top of said casing and extending down within saidburner cup and having air admission ports below the top of said flange,and means, extending through the bottom of said burner cup, forsupplying liquid fuel thereto.

4. A liquid fuel burner according to claim 3 in which the body member ofthe burner cup is provided with air admission ports above said flange inaddition to the air admission ports below the top of said flange.

5. An oil burner having a combustion chamber; a substantially fiat oilspreader plate in the combustion chamber heated by the products ofcombustion; an oil sump in the center of the spreader plate also heatedby the products of combustion; means for supplying oil to the sump andin a thin film therefrom to the spreader plate, whereby the oil willvaporize as it flows over the spreader plate; means for supplying air tothe combustion chamber in the vicinity of the spreader plate to supportcombustion, said means including an air conduit extending through theoil sump and spreader plate and having an orifice substantially abovethe spreader plate, said conduit forming a central bafile, said airconduit being in heat-conducting relation with the oil sump to moderatethe temperature thereof and avoid flushing of the oil in the sump; andmeans for blowing the products of combustion horizontally over thespreader plate against said baffle.

6. An oil burner having a combustion chamber; a substantially fiat oilspreader plate in the combustion chamber heated by the products ofcombustion; an oil sump inthe center of the spreader plate also heatedby the products of combustion; means for supplying oil to the sump andin a thin film therefrom to the spreader plate, whereby the oil willvaporize as it flows over the spreader plate; an air conduit extendingthrough the oil sump and spreader plate and having an orificesubstantially above the spreader plate, said conduit forming a centralbafile; an air spreader having a stem extending through the air conduitand a spreading disk-like head supported by the stem above thecombustion chamber to cause currents of air and products of combustionto be directed upwardly and outwardly from the center of the burner; acirculating-air jacket around the sump and spreader plate to partiallycool the oil sump and spreader plate and prevent overheating thereof,said spreader plate having a vertical wall around its periphery; an airdefiector adjacent to and around the inner surface of the wall of thespreader plate; and air passages in the deflector plate positioned todirect air streams inwardly and substantially radially over the spreaderplate and oil film thereon for supporting combustion, said inwardlydirected air streams and products of combustion being forced outwardlyand upwardly by the air passing through said central air conduit aroundsaid stem and along the surface of said disk-like spreading head andthrowing the products of combustion against the Walls of the furnace.

7. An oil burner having a combustion chamber; a substantially fiat oilspreader plate in the combustion chamber heated by the products ofcombustion; an oil sump in the center of the spreader plate also heatedby the products of combustion; means for supplying oil to the sump andin a thin film therefrom to the spreader plate, whereby the oil willvaporize as it flows over the spreader plate; an air conduit extendingthrough the oil sump and spreader plate and having an orificesubstantially above the spreader plate, said conduit forming a centralbaflle; an air spreader having a stem extending through the air conduitand a spreading disk-like head supported by the stem above thecombustion chamber to cause currents of air and products of combustionto be directed upwardly and outwardly from the center of the burner; ashell supporting the spreader plate and forming a circulating-air jacketaround the combustion chamber and spreader plate to partially cool theoil sump and spreader plate and prevent overheating thereof, saidspreader plate having a vertical wall around its periphery; a coverplate for said shell having a depending flange adjacent to and aroundthe inner surface of the wall of the spreader plate and terminatingadjacent the fiat surface of the latter; and air passages in saiddepending flange positioned to direct air streams inwardly andsubstantially radially over the spreader plate and oil film thereon forsupporting combustion, said inwardly directed air streams and productsof combustion being forced outwardly and upwardly by the air passingthrough said central air conduit around said stem and along the surfaceof said disklike spreading head and throwing the products of combustionagainst the walls of the furnace.

